T-Mobile, AT&T File For FCC Approval Of Spectrum Transfer

T-Mobile USA and AT&T filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission for approval of the transfer of $1 billion in wireless airwaves AT&T promised as a result of the failure of its $39 billion bid to take over its smaller rival.

AT&T said it would turn over the airwaves, or spectrum, along with $3 billion in cash to T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom AG after pulling out of the deal as opposition mounted from the FCC, Justice Department, state attorneys general and rival carriers.

“This additional spectrum will help meet the growing demand for wireless broadband services,” said Tom Sugrue, T-Mobile’s senior vice president for government affairs, in an emailed statement. “We hope the FCC will move swiftly to approve the license assignments.”

T-Mobile has said it needs additional spectrum to keep pace with its larger competitors. It is the only major national carrier with no plan to roll out the faster fourth-generation mobile broadband service known as LTE, and it lost 849,000 contract customers in last year’s first nine months.

AT&T dropped its bid for T-Mobile on Dec. 19. An AT&T spokesman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.